Carbon paper pack



June 7, 1960 L. K. FLEISCHMANN 2,939,726

CARBON PAPER PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1958 FIE. 2

June 7, 1960 L. K. FLEISCHMANN 2,939,726

CARBON PAPER "PACK Filed July 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1960 L. K. FLEISCHMANN 2,939,726

CARBON PAPER'PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 8, 1958 United States Patent Of" CARBON PAPER PACK Lester K. Fleischmann, Highland Park, Ill. (Standard Manifold Co., 333 W. Lake St., Chicago 6, Ill.)

Filed July 8, 1958, Set. No. 747,304

4 Claims. (Cl. 282-19 This invention relates to the art of manifoldin-g in which continuous strips of stationery are led over carbon holders containing a supply of. carbon paper used to make several copies before discarded in favor of fresh carbon from the supply. The invention is concerned primarily with an improved staggered, zig-zag folded pack of transfer material for such use.

The advantages of a flat transfermaterial pack for use in manifolding have been recognized for some time and several attempts to make a commercially acceptable pack have generally ended in failure. It is believed that these failures were due to. a lack of convenience in the use of the pack or in a lack of practicality as far as the structure was concerned. i

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved flat pack. of transfer material for use in manifolding.

Another object. of the invention is to provide a flat staggered, zig-zag folded pack of transfer material having an exposed handle easily manipulated for releasing carbon paper from the pack when desired.

Another object is to provide a carbon supply pack which is extremely easy to place into an operative manifolding assembly. it

Another object is to provide a carbon supply pack which is easily and'interchangeably used with superposed separate stationary strips or with fanfold stationery.

A further object is to provide a carbon supply pack of the nature described which is substantially fool-proof in its operation by the writing machine operator using the same.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a broken plan view of a manifolding flat pack of transfer material made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the center of Figure 1 substantially along line. 2-2

. therein;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the right-hand end portion of Figure 2 somewhat changed in position of parts;

Figure 4 is a broken fragmentary perspective view of a slightly different form of the manifolding flat pack of transfer material embodying the invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the center of thepack illustrated in Figure 4 taken longitudinally thereof and through the means for releasing the carbon paper;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the zig- Lag folded pack of transfer material as shown in Figure 4 before application to thecarrier, shown in Figure 4, and as supplied to the purchaser;

, Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 of a slightly different form of manifolding flat pack of transfer material embodying the invention; and

Patented June-7, 1960 Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 in Figure 7.

Continuous form stationery is used in a great many business oflices and many of these uses employ carbon paper which is held between the superposed strips of sta tionery to make a manifolding assembly. The supply of carbon paper is supported on a holding bar so that a free edge of a continuous strip of carbon paper may extend in interleaved relation with the stationery. The as sembly may thus pass around a platen of a writing, or billing, or similar machine to receive the desired imprinting. The carbon paper is generally used a number of times after which it may be removed from the assembly and discarded. An additional length of carbon paper from the supply packs is then led forwardly to provide fresh, clean carbon paper in the manifolding assembly. The present invention has to do with an improved carbon supply pack.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the improved pack of transfer material and, as shown, is assembled in a carrier mentber having a body portion 10 and a flap portion 11- folded around a holding bar 12 and having stitching 13 to form the pocket for the holding bar. This carrier may be removably placed on the holding bar and known commercial structures including the bar 12 are available for the mounting of the carbon supply packs.

The carbon paper itself is an elongated single strip of transfer material, generally a tissue, provided with a colored transfer coating. This material is Zig-zag folded in a manner to provide the folds in staggered or offset relation exposing a part of the material adjacent each fold. For example, the lowermost carbon strip'portion 14 is exposed beyond a fold line 15 and between the fold' line 15, and fold line 16 has an additional exposed surface 17. A considerable length of carbon paper may be assembled into such a zig-zag fold pack for placement within the carrier member. A free end 13 of the carbon strip may be pulled in the direction of arrow 19(Figure 2) and extend out from the carrier member to pass in interleaved relation with the stationery strips. The sur face of the carbon strip which is uppermost in Figure 2 is provided with a carbon coating by which carbon may be transferred in the imprinting of the stationery sheets to form a copy of the writing. The lower surface is preferably coated with a colorless transfer material (wax) which may include a colorless powdered material in the nature of a talc, a non-ferrous metal pigment in powdered form, or similar material which will not leave an imprint on the stationery if inscribed or subjected to the impact of a writing key.

The zig-Za-g folded carbon strip is held in zig-zag form by an adhesively coated tape 20. This tape is applied across the folds and is adhered to the exposed portions of the carbon strip adjacent the folds on the uninked side. It is ordinarily preferred to apply the tape to the face of the carbon strip having the colorless transfer coating. Also, the tape is generally applied centrally of the width of the pack. Once the tape is secured to the carbon strip, the assembly in zig-zag fashion is maintained. A pressure sensitive adhesive is preferred, one which will, under certain circumstances, readily release its hold on the carbon strip.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the forward end of the tape is shown rolled in a roll 21. This roll is formed about a tube 22 formed of paper or material of similar nature. The tube 22 is sufficiently small to tightly receive a,

body portion of the carrier member. This tape will secure and maintain the pack within the carrier member. The end of the carbon strip may be placed under a flap 10a sewnvalong line 10b to the carrier 10 and adhered thereto if desired. In Figure 3, the leading free end 18 of the carbon strip may be pulled in the direction of arrow 26 and slightly tensioned while releasing additional carbon from the supply. As the stick is turned to roll thetape 20 upon the tube 22, the adhmive tape is peeled or pried loose from the port-ion 27 of the carbon strip adhered to the tape. The turning should occur in the direction of the arrow 28 in Figure 3. As soon as the bond between the tape and carbon strip is broken, an additional fold 29 of the carbon paper will be released, adding its length to the free end 18. Also in Figure 3 adjacent exposed portions 30, 31 and 32 of the carbon strip between the fold lines are shown adhered to the adhesive tape. l'I'hese folds in turn may be released in asimilar manner.

' One of the advantages of the present carbon pack is in the ability of the operator of the writing machine using the pack, to easily obtain an additional length of carbon paper for use. Holding tension upon the carbon carrier members, the operator need only turn each stick until the next carbon fold is released. In practice, a very noticeable release occurs both in a slight snap of the carbon breaking loose of the adhesive which may be felt by the operator holding the stick and also the carbon strip becomes slack. After one fold is released, continued turning of stick will be of no useful purpose because the slack in the carbon will not allow an additional fold to be released until the strip is pulled out and tensioned again.

1 The rolling up of the adhesive carrying tape serves also to take out of operation any length of tape from which the carbon is removed. Additionally, the colorless transfer coating on the back of the carbon paper will transfer to the adhesive and remain on the tape. A coating of tale in a wax carrier can thus render the exposed adhesive on the tape inefiective to again grasp the carbon strip. In this manner, only that portion of the carbon strip originally adhered to the tape will be effective in holding the folds of carbon paper in the pack. In has been found that the longitudinal pull on the free end of the carbon strip will not loosen unintentionally and that a definite premeditated move on the part of the operator is required to release additional folds of the carbon strip. At the same time, the release in the manner specified can be'easily accomplished.

' In Figures 4, and 6 a carbon supply pack in accordance with the invention is illustrated wherein the pack is used in a permanent carrier member. In this form of the invention, the carrier member has a body portion 40 and a flap portion 41 folded about a holding bar 12 and both parts of the carrier are made of a thin cloth intended to be used repeatedly. The carbon pack is supplied in the form shown in Figure 6. A wax coated carrier sheet 42 is used to hold the zig-zag folded carbon strip with the colored transfer coating next to the sheet. The strip is folded in the same way described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 with exposed portions such as 43 between adjacent fold lines 44 and 45 by way of example. Here,

. however, the adhesive coated tape 46 has an end portion 47 extending beyond the trailing edge 48 of the carbon strip. The adhesive on the portion 47 of the tape is used first to attach the carbon strip to the sheet carrier 42 and later to secure the same carbon strip in the permanent carrier member. In Figure 4 this portion 47 is shown with the adhesive exposed so as to adhere to the flap 41 when brought down on top of the carbon pack. The 'body portion is provided with a number of indicia lines such as '48 by which the carbon pack may be properly aligned in the carrier member.

In using the invention, as shown in Figures 4 through 6, the operator can pick up the pack and strip it from the carrier sheet 42 after which it is placed in the permanent leader or carrier member 40; When properly aligned with the desired indicia, the flap portion 41 is lowered and pressed against the exposed adhesive on the end portion 47 of the tape. .The free end 49 of the carbon strip is thus pulled forwardly into interleaved relation with the stationery strips in superposed relation with the carbon carrier. A tube 50, similar to the tube 22, is secured to the front end of the tape by the adhesive thereon. This tube can receive a stick 51 inserted from either end since the tube is hollow and open on both ends. 'The tube is carefully positioned so that rolling the tube will cause the tape to roll upon the outer surface thereof and in this embodiment the tube is rolled so that the ad hesive is on the inside, as more readily discernable in Figure 5. The stick 51 may be turned in the direction 7 of arrow 52 causing the tube and the tape to roll in a direction, pulling the portion 53 of the tape from the carbon strip. In the act of rolling, the exposed, no longer needed portion of the adhesive is rendered ineffective by passing on to the inside of the tube roll.

, In Figures 7 and 8 a very similar form of pack is shown with the difference being primarily in the way the zig-zag staggered, folded, carbon strip is placed in the holder. The holder has a bottom flap 40 and a top flap 41 arranged for mounting on a holding bar *12 as described in the other embodiments. The zig-zag folded carbon strip 53 is the same structurally as the strips previously described and it is mounted upon a tape 54 extending over the entire length of folded carbon so that an exposed part 55 of the tape may aid in holding the carbon in the holder by contacting the upper flap 41. Additional tape segments 56 and 57 may be used for positioning the folded carbon in the holder, if desired, or found convenient in handling.

The zig-zag folded pack of carbon paper in Figure 7 is turned 180 from that shown in Figure 4. It will be noted that the visible fold lines such as 58 appear at the free end of the holder rather than at the closed end as in Figure 4. b

The purpose of the above indicated difference is to aid in the removal of the tape from the carbon without danger of tearing the carbon. Referring to Figure 8, the leading edge 59 of the carbon is, in effect, pulled out from under the pack. When this leading edge is tensioned and stick 51 turned to roll the tube 50 in order to roll up the tape 54 in the direction of the arrow, the tape will roll upon the tube until it moves off the fold 59 of the carbon. Thus, in effect, the rolling of the tape moves the tape off the foldas contrasted to rolling into or toward the fold as'in the other embodiments. In the event that the operator does not tension the carbon sufliciently, there is less danger of tearing the carbon by turning the operating stick 51 in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8. Either method of mounting the carbon in the holder is satisfactory.

The advantage of inserting a stick from either end of the tape is in the use of the carbon supply pack in fanfold stationery. Such continuous fanfold stationery if open alternately on opposite edges of the strips. The holding bars are so equipped to cantilever into the fanfold stationery and the turning sticks may be inserted from either side that is available;

It has been found that the use of the tape mounted on the carbon strip and adhering to the exposed portions of the strip adjacent the folds creates a pack which may be handled quite roughly without damage to the carbon paper or any danger of the same becoming unfolded and thus useless. The carbon paper may be lifted and the various folds may hang from the tape without danger of loosening or unfolding. Thus, it is quite practical to provide the carbon in the form of Figure 6 to the customer and allow the operator to make a simple trans fer of the carbon strip to a permanent carrier member.

either form of the carbon pack for use with fanfold stationery or with loose superposed stationery strips.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom for some modifications Will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A manifolding fiat pack oftransfer material, adapted to be anchored to a holding bar between superposed strips of stationery, comprising: a carrier member having a body portion and a flap portion adapted to be folded over a holding bar to hold the carrier member against forward movement with respect to the stationery and protect the contents of the carrier; an elongated strip of transfer material zig-zag folded with offset folds exposing a portion of the material adjacent each fold; an adhesive coated tape extending across the folds and exposed material to hold the material in folded form, said tape having opposite ends free of attachment to the transfer material, one of said ends extending beyond the transfer material for adhesively mounting the folded pack in said carrier member and the other end being arranged to receive a laterally extending stick for rolling up the tape successively releasing folds of transfer material for manifolding use.

2. A manifolding flat pack of transfer material as specified in claim 1 in which a collapsible tube is adhered to said other end of the tape in position to roll the tape thereon when the tube is rolled lengthwise of the tape, and said tube is hollow-to reecive said stick telescoped therein for manually rolling the tube to release folds of transfer material.

3. A manifolding pack of transfer material comprising: an elongated single strip of transfer material zig-zag folded with offset folds exposing a portion of the material adjacent each fold; an adhesive coated tape extending lengthwise of the pack across said folds and adhesively secured to the transfer material exposed adjacent said folds; a tube adhesively secured to one end of said tape and extending across the tape in position to roll the tape thereon, said transfer material having a free end portion for extending outwardly from the pack over the end of the tape having said tube, said tube being hollow to receive a turning stick inserted therein permitting rolling up the tape to release folds of the transfer material, said tape extending beyond the transfer material at the end opposite said tube to expose a tape portion with adhesive thereon, and a sheet carrier secured adhesively to said exposed tape portion and supporting said zig-zag folded transfer material in the carrier to position the pack in manifolding relation with stationery.

4. A manifolding fiat pack of transfer material, adapted to be anchored to a holding bar between superposed strips of stationery, comprising: a carrier member having a body portion and a flap portion adapted to be folded over a holding bar to hold the carrier member against forward movement with respect to the stationery and protect the contents of the carrier; an elongated strip of transfer material zig-zag folded with offset folds exposing a portion of the material adjacent each fol-d, one end of said strip being secured in said carrier and the opposite end being free to extend outwardly from the carrier in manifolding relation with said stationery; an adhesive coated tape extending across generally the central portion of the folds and exposed material to hold the material in folded form, said tape having its forward end free of attachment to the transfer material, said free tape end being arranged to receive a laterally extending stick for rolling up the tape successively releasing folds of transfer material for manifolding use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,629 Poczatek June 8, 1954 

